“We’re (the city) talking with an individual who has plans to open up a grocery store,” said Howard Lake City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The individual has not been named publicly yet, but the city said it is excited and can’t wait until it can tell everybody who the potential grocer is.

The new grocery store would be in the building formerly known as Gerry’s Super Valu, according to the city, and the preliminary opening date is aimed for Thanksgiving of this year.

In other matters, the council scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. to get public input about the municipal liquor store.

“Minnesota statues require that any city that reports a loss prior to interfund transfers for the operation of a municipal liquor store in any two of three consecutive years must hold a public hearing on the question of whether the city shall continue to operate a municipal liquor store,” Hinnenkamp said.

The hearing will take place before the regularly scheduled council meeting on that date.

Cleanup day scheduled

Fall cleanup day will be Saturday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. A notice from the city is published in this issue as to what items are accepted and any associated fees.

Odds and ends

In other business, the council:

• heard from the police department that it has secured yet another grant, the latest being an alcohol compliance grant from the State of Minnesota.

Grant monies will pay for the city to conduct two rounds of compliance checks around the city to enforce the underage drinking program.

• heard from the city engineer that the current roadwork is progressing nicely, and that the roads should be in good shape by the end of the month.